Ectomycorrhizal fungi of Pinus pinea L. in northeastern Spain

Although Pinus pinea L. is an important forest species in the Mediterranean region, few reports exist on its ectomycorrhizal associates. Sixty isolate s, obtained from fungal sporocarps collected in mixed forests of P. pinea i n Catalonia (northeastern Spain), were tested for ectomycorrhiza formation on containerized P. pinea seedlings when applied as mycelial inoculum produ ced in peat-vermiculite, A total of 17 isolates, in 8 genera (Amanita, Hebe loma, Laccaria, Lactarius, Pisolithus, Rhizopogon, Scleroderma and Suillus) , formed ectomycorrhizas and the percentages of mycorrhizal short rests var ied among isolates and species from 13% to 89%, Some of these fungi are cit ed for the first time in association with P. pinea. The results indicate fu rther fungal candidates for controlled inoculation of P. pinea seedlings in the nursery.